Trades and Skilled Jobs - Biggest Job Search Engine Blog | Tradescraft.comhttp://tradescraft.com/blog
Alberta Electrical, Carpentry, Mechanic, HVAC, Installer, Estimator, Drywaller & Construction JobsThu, 26 Mar 2015 17:29:21 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.255 Things You Must Know About Your Competitorshttp://tradescraft.com/blog/5-things-you-must-know-about-your-competitors/
http://tradescraft.com/blog/5-things-you-must-know-about-your-competitors/#commentsFri, 06 Mar 2015 21:46:48 +0000http://tradescraft.com/blog/?p=513One of the more important strategies of running a successful business is to keep an eye out for your competitors. It is always wise to know what your competition is doing wrong, and where it is right on track. You can constantly learn from the things that your competitors are doing correctly and incorporate them […]]]>

One of the more important strategies of running a successful business is to keep an eye out for your competitors. It is always wise to know what your competition is doing wrong, and where it is right on track. You can constantly learn from the things that your competitors are doing correctly and incorporate them into your own venture.

Here is a list of things that you must definitely know about your competitors.

Find Out Who Your Competitors Are:

Bear in mind that competitors are not only those who deal in the same products as you, but also those who provide similar services to the consumers and fulfill similar needs. Additionally, with an increased reach of the internet all over the world, your competitors are not limited to your immediate neighbors, but are extended to online retailers as well. It helps to know exactly who your competition is in order to devise a strategy to tackle them.

Customers of the Competition:

The best and easiest way to determine who the most regular customers of your competition are is to look at the testimonials on the competitor’s website. This way, not only will you know the social strata of your competitor’s customer base and what kind of services they are receiving from their business, but also what clients they have been missing out on so far.

Social Media Reach:

This is an age where everyone with internet access has a social media profile. Businesses are not too far behind in this race to seeking online validation, either. Check out your competitor’s profile on Facebook or even their own website, gauge how people are reacting to their posts online, and keep an eye on the number of likes on their page. Some more things to look for on your competitor’s social media page are what type of content they publish, how responsive their fans and followers are to this content, how shared their content is, and how often it goes viral online. Dig deep and understand what they are doing right, and how they are doing it.

Top Keywords:

As more and more consumers depend upon the internet to find out any information they want about companies and the services that they provide, knowing the keywords that the consumers are typing in the search bar is inarguably essential. If the keywords they are using lead straight to your competitor’s website, then co-opting for similar keywords will give your business a boost and help you attract a client base over the internet, thus providing you with an opportunity to serve them. It is wise not to undermine the significance of the internet and use it to your advantage instead.

The Vulnerable Points:

Every business has a vulnerable point, areas where they are weak. You will always be at an advantage if you know where your competitor is weak, what kinds of customers they are not particularly good with, and who they consider as a threat. This information will allow you to penetrate certain markets and deal with certain customers far more easily than your competitors can.

These are just a few tactics to stay one step ahead of your competitor in the market. You can learn more in detail about things that you need to know about your competition here.

]]>http://tradescraft.com/blog/5-things-you-must-know-about-your-competitors/feed/0How To Pick a Good Tradesman In 5 Easy Stepshttp://tradescraft.com/blog/how-to-pick-a-good-tradesman-in-5-easy-steps/
http://tradescraft.com/blog/how-to-pick-a-good-tradesman-in-5-easy-steps/#commentsFri, 06 Mar 2015 21:41:58 +0000http://tradescraft.com/blog/?p=510There are some household catastrophes that you just cannot deal with on your own. You need professional help to fix that clog in the drain that got out of hand, or for that pipe that burst and wreaked havoc to your plumbing. To take care of such problems, you need a reliable tradesman who will […]]]>

There are some household catastrophes that you just cannot deal with on your own. You need professional help to fix that clog in the drain that got out of hand, or for that pipe that burst and wreaked havoc to your plumbing. To take care of such problems, you need a reliable tradesman who will not rip you off citing your lack of knowledge about the technicalities of these issues.

So, how do you pick a good and reliable tradesman to solve your problems?

Call a Recommended Tradesperson:

One of the more fool-proof ways of choosing a reliable tradesman, be it an electrician, a plumber, or a contractor, is to ask your friends and family for referrals. If they have had a good experience with a particular professional, then they are sure to recommend him to you. Word-of-mouth is generally the best way to choose a tradesman.

Local Recommendations:

If your friends and family could not recommend a guy to you, then you always have the option to check out online listings to find a list of recommended tradespersons in your area. These listings are often endorsed by an association, thus giving credibility to the traders. There are severalwebsites which work by collecting reviews of local handymen in the aim to help customers get the best services for any of their household emergencies.

Get Quotes:

You should aim to gather at least three quotes, but bear in mind that the cheapest is not necessarily the best option. The written quotation should include complete details of the work being carried out and the total cost it will incur, as well as the date of completion of the job. Having a written account is always better in order to avoid any miscommunication.

Check for Credentials:

Legitimate credentials often offer a feeling of respite while choosing a reliable tradesman. Checking that the tradesman is registered with a recognized industry body is an excellent way to ensure that they are skilled and professional. Inquiring the tradespersons for appropriate accreditation is the best way to figure out which one you should hire.

Don’t Hesitate to Ask Questions:

Since you are hiring a tradesman and paying him for the work, you reserve the right to ask them any questions regarding the job that might be lingering over your mind. Here are some questions that you should be asking your tradesperson before he gets cracking at the problem:

What do I need to provide?

What will the total cost be?

What is the start date?

What is the finish date of the chore?

How do you want to be paid? (Cash payment, bank transfer, etc.)

Following these five steps will bring you closer to your objective of finding and hiring a skilled and reliable tradesman for any problems around the house.

]]>http://tradescraft.com/blog/how-to-pick-a-good-tradesman-in-5-easy-steps/feed/0Why Mobile Invoicing is The Next Big Thinghttp://tradescraft.com/blog/why-mobile-invoicing-is-the-next-big-thing/
http://tradescraft.com/blog/why-mobile-invoicing-is-the-next-big-thing/#commentsFri, 20 Feb 2015 22:54:47 +0000http://tradescraft.com/blog/?p=504If you have a business that is always up and about, then you will benefit greatly from being able to immediately invoice the clients from anywhere. Depending on paper, emails, and other non-task-specific tools to invoice clients is no longer an efficient method of keeping track of your client billing information. This is only one […]]]>

If you have a business that is always up and about, then you will benefit greatly from being able to immediately invoice the clients from anywhere. Depending on paper, emails, and other non-task-specific tools to invoice clients is no longer an efficient method of keeping track of your client billing information. This is only one of the reasons why mobile invoicing has been touted as the next big thing for businesses. Here are a few more reasons for you to get your invoicing techniques up to modern-day standards.

Mobility:

Invoicing your clients online gives users unprecedented convenience and accessibility. It allows you to create an invoice anywhere, at any time, with Wi-Fi or internet access. It also eliminates the possibility of procrastination to a great extent, as you can email an invoice to the client the moment a job is complete by using your mobile phone, which is with you at all times.

More Professional Invoices:

If you choose to bill your clients online, you have a variety of predetermined templates that will make every quote, every letter, and every invoice look consistent and well-organized, thus enhancing the image of your business.

Faster Process:

Another advantage of using your mobile phone to send invoices to clients is that you can email them directly, without having to wait for invoices to arrive via traditional snail mail. This will help you in sending your invoices faster, and not cause a delay in payment.

No More Supplies:

With this technology, you no longer gave to spend money on printing several copies of each invoice for your record and your client’s. The storing of invoices is made easier with the usage of a mobile device, so that all your bills are saved in virtual files and folders instead of piling them up in actual files. This also saves the need to purchase paper supplies, envelopes, and stamps.

Safety and Security:

Billing clients online securely stores the information from each invoice online, so that there is never a need to print copies of it. This also benefits in keeping a track record of all your bills, and eradicate the possibility of the invoice getting lost due to the unreliability of snail mail. Your client can never say that they did not receive a particular invoice, because online billing software programs allow you to request a read receipt, which will make the client confirm that they have received the invoice and have it with them.

Updating your business with the use of modern technology provides enormous help with keeping a track of your daily activities, and ensures that your business is functioning in the smoothest possible way. Mobile invoicing not only makes it simpler for you to go through with the process, it also makes your business look good to the clients.

]]>http://tradescraft.com/blog/why-mobile-invoicing-is-the-next-big-thing/feed/0Top Blogs That Every Tradesperson Should Followhttp://tradescraft.com/blog/top-blogs-that-every-tradesperson-should-follow/
http://tradescraft.com/blog/top-blogs-that-every-tradesperson-should-follow/#commentsTue, 17 Feb 2015 22:45:15 +0000http://tradescraft.com/blog/?p=495Reading blogs about the things that spark your interest is a great way of breaking up monotony. A good blog provides you with new information on a daily basis, and also offers a perspective that might be different from yours. It is easy to get locked away into a linear thought process of your own, […]]]>

Reading blogs about the things that spark your interest is a great way of breaking up monotony. A good blog provides you with new information on a daily basis, and also offers a perspective that might be different from yours. It is easy to get locked away into a linear thought process of your own, but reading blogs tends to keep that problem at a distance.

There are blogs out there for every kind of profession or interests that one might have. For tradespersons, here are some of the best financial blogs that you should read every day:

Calculated Risk:

Ranked number 4 on Time Magazine’s list of The 25 Best Financial Blogs, Calculated Risk is a renowned financial blog run by Bill McBride, a full-time blogger. The site was started in January of 2005, and provides concise and very accessible summaries of all the key economic data and developments. If there is only one financial blog that you follow, this one has to be it.

Freakonomics:

The co-authors of the non-fiction book ‘Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explains the Hidden Side of Everything ‘, Steven Litt and Stephen J. Dubner, started their own blog in 2005. Freakonomics has morphed from a book to a blog to podcasts to a movie, and despite the constant transformations, the blog has managed to retain its essence. The blog consists of fun and fascinating posts updated every hour, and cover a wide range of topics ranging from NFL to Romanian Witches.

Business Insider:

Business Insider is the fastest-growing business news website in the US, and even in India. It was launched in February of 2009 by Kevin P. Ryan, Founder and Former CEO of DoubleClick. The website provides and analyzes business news and acts as an aggregator of top news stories from around the web. Ranked 25 on Time Magazine’s list of The 25 Best Financial Blogs, this is the place to go for all the Wall Street gossip and to know what is trending on the web.

24/7 Wall St.:

24/7 Wall St. is a Delaware corporation which runs a financial news and opinion company with content delivered over the internet. It was initially created by Douglas McIntyre and continued by him and Jon Ogg, and has since grown to publish 30 high-quality posts and articles on an everyday basis. Many of the largest news sites and portals such as Yahoo! Finance, The Huffington Post, USAToday, Time.com, etc. republish the articles generated on this website. The coverage of topics includes some quality insights on finances, tech info, analysis upgrades and downgrades, and a number of other categories of subjects as well.

Abnormal Returns:

Abnormal Returns was established in the year 2005, and has been one of the oldest financial blogs on the internet, with a rich thousand or more posts up on their website. Tadas Viskanta is the Founder and Editor of the blog, with over 25 years of experience in the financial markets. This website focuses on providing the readers with educational content rather than specific posts.

If you are serious about trading and want to read about intelligent insights and new market information, these blogs are your one-stop shop for everything business-related.

]]>http://tradescraft.com/blog/top-blogs-that-every-tradesperson-should-follow/feed/0Three Reasons You Need Social Media to Sell Your Tradehttp://tradescraft.com/blog/three-reasons-you-need-social-media-to-sell-your-trade/
http://tradescraft.com/blog/three-reasons-you-need-social-media-to-sell-your-trade/#commentsTue, 17 Feb 2015 22:42:44 +0000http://tradescraft.com/blog/?p=492Many tradespersons think that they don’t really need to have anything to do with social media. If you are one of those professionals who don’t believe that the social media can benefit you in a variety of ways, then it is time for you to reassess that opinion. Here are three reasons why you should […]]]>

Many tradespersons think that they don’t really need to have anything to do with social media. If you are one of those professionals who don’t believe that the social media can benefit you in a variety of ways, then it is time for you to reassess that opinion. Here are three reasons why you should not disregard the impact of social media in the life of a tradesman.

Build a Positive Image of Your Business:

If you are not involved in social media, you have no tangible way of ascertaining what people are saying about you, your brand, and your products and services. Consumers are always on the lookout for tradespersons for some reason or another, and you need to make sure that they think of you when they need a particular service. Social media is the best way to confirm that. With regular updates about the kinds of products you offer and other details about your business, you can ensure that your presence is visible to a large audience simultaneously, and the number of ‘likes’ on your Facebook page tell you all you need to know about your popularity among the people.

Help the Customer Know You Better:

If you have your own blog where you post updates about the work that you have done and are doing, and also impart knowledge about the technicalities of your business, it helps potential consumers in recognising you as a brand, and learning new information about you every day that might be required for them to know whether or not your products and services are good for their needs. Also, if you have a social media presence, it allows the consumers to read what other consumers are saying about you, which is a major factor for them to decide whether or not to hire you. Moreover, if the consumer gets in touch with you and likes the work you do for them, they will definitely share their positive experience on the internet, where other consumers will read them and decide to call you, and so on and so forth.

Share What You Know About the Trade:

A Facebook page or a blog of your own or even a Twitter handle will allow you to update your account with whatever you want the people to know about you. You can use this for your own advantage as well as the advantage of the readers by giving them answers to questions they may have in their minds, such as:

What is your trade all about?

How do I go about hiring a tradesperson?

How do I know if the tradesperson I am hiring is reliable?

Should I ask for credentials from the tradesperson?

What are the qualities that I should look for in a tradesperson?

Along with the answers to these questions, you can also provide valuable trade information to those who are novices in the industry, and help them by boosting their trade in such a simple way. Social media gives you the leverage to distribute your content in the way that you like. You have complete control over what you are portraying about yourself, because what people will say about you is initially based on what you say about yourself.

If you are still in two minds about the pros and cons of getting yourself caught in the gigantic web of social media, you should give this article a read.

]]>http://tradescraft.com/blog/three-reasons-you-need-social-media-to-sell-your-trade/feed/0Why You Should Use a Contractor When Building Your Homehttp://tradescraft.com/blog/why-you-should-use-a-contractor-when-building-your-home/
http://tradescraft.com/blog/why-you-should-use-a-contractor-when-building-your-home/#commentsFri, 13 Feb 2015 21:09:40 +0000http://tradescraft.com/blog/?p=486Whether or not you should hire a general contractor when building your home is a crucial question, one that engenders thoughtful evaluation on your part. A general contractor is the professional you hire to oversee the entire job. The job could be the construction of a house or a remodelling job. The contractor is responsible […]]]>

Whether or not you should hire a general contractor when building your home is a crucial question, one that engenders thoughtful evaluation on your part. A general contractor is the professional you hire to oversee the entire job. The job could be the construction of a house or a remodelling job. The contractor is responsible for managing all the aspects and details, and making sure that the work is functioning smoothly, and there aren’t any difficulties.

Now that you know the basics of what a contractor does, you will be able to decide better why you need a contractor. However, if you are still in two minds, here are a few pros and cons of hiring a contractor to do this job.

The pros of hiring a general contractor:-

A contractor will make it easier to oversee the development of a large project.

There is one person responsible for everything construction-related. If something goes wrong, you know who to turn to. It is the contractor’s job to fix things and get the work completed in time.

A good contractor will hire good sub-contractors who work efficiently and will be able to deliver good quality of work within the stipulated time period.

Hiring a contractor is the least expensive option if you don’t want to become a self-contractor. This is why you shouldn’t be an independent contractor.

Most contractors have a standard contract they use before a job, but you can tweak this contract a bit in the way you find agreeable.

Hiring a general contractor also has its own flipside that you must know about before deciding. Here are the cons of dealing with a general contractor.

The contractor will know a lot more than you about construction, which is a good thing until you realize that the contractor is taking you for a ride.

There are no checks and balances. You have to rely completely on the contractor.

If the contractor writes his own plans and specifications, it may be difficult for you to evaluate them for quality. You will not know if the bid includes everything that you asked for in the contract.

In the case of any problems or delays, you will be in no position to negotiate because the contractor will hold leverage over you. You won’t have a lot of say in the technical matters.

Of course, it will be your responsibility to hire the general contractor in the first place, so make sure that you research well and talk to people who have previously hired contractors and have had a positive experience before making your choice. Even after you hire a contractor, you will still have to maintain communication with him on a daily basis so that you know that the work is going as per schedule.

Hiring a contractor does not eliminate your responsibilities, but it greatly diminishes them.

]]>http://tradescraft.com/blog/why-you-should-use-a-contractor-when-building-your-home/feed/0The Best Paid Entry-Level Job for Tradespersonshttp://tradescraft.com/blog/the-best-paid-entry-level-job-for-tradespersons/
http://tradescraft.com/blog/the-best-paid-entry-level-job-for-tradespersons/#commentsFri, 13 Feb 2015 21:07:31 +0000http://tradescraft.com/blog/?p=483Are you wondering how much your dream job pays? Or did you expect a certain job to pay a certain amount of money, only to be disappointed? Read this to find out the best paying entry-level jobs in the industry. These jobs, while appropriate for freshly-graduated individuals, have reasonable starting salaries and an exceptional potential […]]]>

Are you wondering how much your dream job pays? Or did you expect a certain job to pay a certain amount of money, only to be disappointed? Read this to find out the best paying entry-level jobs in the industry. These jobs, while appropriate for freshly-graduated individuals, have reasonable starting salaries and an exceptional potential for professional growth.

Real Estate Broker:

Did you know that most of the real estate brokers are not even graduates, and yet find success as soon as they enter the profession? A real estate broker is a person who acts as an intermediary between sellers and buyers of real estate and attempts to find sellers who wish to sell and buyers who wish to buy. The biggest advantage of entering this profession is that you will not have to spend thousands of dollars on studying for it, as is the case with engineers or doctors, but you will find as much success as they do.

Graphic Designer:

A graphic designer designs and creates graphics for all kinds of advertisements and logos, using all kinds of mediums. The need for graphic designers is on the rise these days with the advertising sector seeing a boom. To become a graphic designer, you require a Bachelors degree in Art or graphic design. You need to be creative, artistic, and updated with technology. Entry-level workers in this field can expect an annual salary of $46,000.

Software Developer:

Software developers create computer programmes and applications or develop operational systems for devices. This also requires a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in software development, and offers a median pay of about $86,000. Here is a list of companies that most software developers aspire to be a part of.

Occupational Therapist:

The job of an occupational therapist is to work directly with a client and help them achieve a fulfilled or satisfied state of mind in their life through purposeful activity and interventions designed to promote the health and general well-being of the client. To become one, you need a Bachelor’s degree in Arts, and according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, you earn a median salary of approximately $72,200. This is how you can obtain the necessary degree and become an occupational therapist.

Pharmaceutical Sales Representative:

A pharmaceutical sales representative is a salesperson recruited by a pharmaceutical company to persuade doctors to buy the prescribed drugs and medication manufactured by that company. This profession also calls for a Bachelor’s degree. You need to be an outgoing person who is good at communication to be appointed for this job. Entry-level sales representatives earn a salary of $54,400 annually, including bonuses. There is also scope for promotions and growth here, as those who are good at what they do can go on to become sales managers and even directors.

To find out about more jobs that pay really well at an entry-level, you can go here.

]]>http://tradescraft.com/blog/the-best-paid-entry-level-job-for-tradespersons/feed/0Passing a Psychometric Test Made Easyhttp://tradescraft.com/blog/passing-a-psychometric-test-made-easy/
http://tradescraft.com/blog/passing-a-psychometric-test-made-easy/#commentsThu, 05 Feb 2015 20:31:13 +0000http://blog.tradescraft.com/?p=473Is there an organization that you are dying to be a part of, but one of the steps to getting recruited is sitting down for a psychometric test? It may seem complicated and difficult to get through at first, but it really isn’t all that tough. Read the steps in this article to know how […]]]>

Is there an organization that you are dying to be a part of, but one of the steps to getting recruited is sitting down for a psychometric test? It may seem complicated and difficult to get through at first, but it really isn’t all that tough. Read the steps in this article to know how simple it is to crack that baby.

The luck factor will not help you with a psychometric test. Just like any other test, prior preparation is very important if you want to successfully breeze through the examination and impress your recruiters.

Knowing why a company resorts to these tests as measures of a candidate’s ability will help you understand the purpose behind them. Organizations look at this test as an efficient way of gauging the personality and skill-sets of an individual, and analysing whether or not you are the perfect fit for their requirements.

Practice as many aptitude tests as you can lay your hands on, as they will tell you all you need to know about what to expect in the test that really matters. There is a wide array of different kinds of tests available online for free, so solve as many of those as you can before appearing for the big one.

Read books, magazines, and surveys about behavioural patterns and personality traits, IQ tests, and what the most desired traits in an employee are in your specific field, and also in general.

Get a good night’s rest the night before the test. You need to be alert and at the keenest of your senses to do well in the test and achieve the desired results.

On the day of the test, read the instructions and the questions carefully. Some of those questions are designed to confuse you, but that is also a test in itself, to see if you can work your way around confusing, ambiguous patterns.

The most important aspect to consider in any examination is the time factor. Make sure that you complete the entire test within the allocated time. If you have to lurk over any question for more than two minutes, it is time to move on to the next one and come back to this later when you are done with everything that you know. If you are a slow writer, practice writing at least five hundred words every day, and time yourself as you do so.

If the last time you solved a mathematical problem was back in high school, then it is an indicator for you to refresh your numerical skills. Practice ten problems every day on topics such as fractions, ratio and proportion, probability, percentages, decimals, etc.

After finishing the test, go over your answers one more time to check for any spelling or grammatical errors. Proofread.

When you receive your test results, analyse them with care. If you are not happy with the result, see where you have made mistakes and which areas you need improvement in, and practice those first before taking the test again.

Do not panic. If you do not do well in the test designed by one organization, it may be because they are looking for something that you cannot provide. Keep taking these tests until you find a place that you fit into like a glove.

Preparation is the fundamental key to any test or examination. Always be prepared. Good luck.

]]>http://tradescraft.com/blog/passing-a-psychometric-test-made-easy/feed/0The Red Seal, and Why it is Important to Every Trades person in Canadahttp://tradescraft.com/blog/the-red-seal-and-why-it-is-important-to-every-trades-person-in-canada/
http://tradescraft.com/blog/the-red-seal-and-why-it-is-important-to-every-trades-person-in-canada/#commentsThu, 05 Feb 2015 20:26:21 +0000http://blog.tradescraft.com/?p=469If you are a Boilermaker, a Carpenter, an Electric Motor System Technician, or dealing in any of these professions in Canada, then it is important for you to obtain a Red Seal endorsement on your provincial/territorial certificates by taking and successfully completing the Red Seal examination. The Red Seal program was established more than 50 […]]]>

If you are a Boilermaker, a Carpenter, an Electric Motor System Technician, or dealing in any of these professions in Canada, then it is important for you to obtain a Red Seal endorsement on your provincial/territorial certificates by taking and successfully completing the Red Seal examination.

The Red Seal program was established more than 50 years ago in order to provide greater portability across Canada for skilled workers, who will be easy to distinguish through this certification. This program is used to acknowledge the competence of tradespersons across Canada and ensure recognition of their certification without any further investigation.

Here is a list of reasons why obtaining the Red Seal is not only important but essential for a tradesperson to establish their skills in the country.

The Red Seal program grants a stamp of approval on the tradesman’s capabilities and provides superior access to skilled trades persons all over Canada.

This program also endows the trades person with absolute reassurance that they are eligible to a predetermined standard of knowledge and experience that has been defined by the industry.

Most importantly, completing the Red Seal program successfully and having it affixed to your trade ensures that qualified trades persons can practice the trade they deal in anywhere across Canada without any further probing or examination.

Employers and customers will have no doubt of your capability or competence once you have passed this Inter-Provincial examination and obtained the seal for your trade. This could open doors to a plethora of job opportunities for you.

Now that you understand the significance of acquiring the Red Seal, this information will help you with the know-how of getting a hold of this ominous seal –

Step 1:

Red Seal certification is granted at the provincial level only, so it would be a good idea to contact the apprenticeship department and training program authority in your province to learn about the specific requirements that are pertinent to your trade to pass the examination.

Step 2:

Before you are prepared to take the Inter-Provincial examination, which incidentally, is not a cakewalk, it is necessary for you to gain all the skills and experience that is needed to indulge in your trade at a professional level. If yours is a trade that requires an apprenticeship to be completed or a course to be studied in order to acquire proper training, then that is what you should be looking for before sitting for this examination that will determine the future of your trade.

Step 3:

As soon as you have achieved all the necessary experience and concluded all the necessary courses/programs, you can sit for the Red Seal examination and, on passing, gain the certification that will allow you the authority to develop your trade anywhere across Canada, without anyone questioning your knowledge or skills in your own trade.

Every apprentice who deals in one of the many trades that call for a Red Seal certification recommends this program, because it makes the life of the tradesperson much easier, and also helps him/her acquire a great deal of knowledge which will only benefit the future of their trade. Contact your training authority and ignite the engine to be well on your way to becoming a province-qualified trades person.

]]>http://tradescraft.com/blog/the-red-seal-and-why-it-is-important-to-every-trades-person-in-canada/feed/0Get Psychometric Tests Done While Hiring Tradespersons in Your Organizationhttp://tradescraft.com/blog/get-psychometric-tests-done-while-hiring-tradespersons-in-your-organization/
http://tradescraft.com/blog/get-psychometric-tests-done-while-hiring-tradespersons-in-your-organization/#commentsThu, 05 Feb 2015 20:19:12 +0000http://blog.tradescraft.com/?p=466Before you recruit employees and hire trades persons for working as a part of your organization and representing you in the industry, it is important and also a cause of respite for you to know that the individual you are hiring is proficient enough to carry out the tasks appointed to him or her in […]]]>

Before you recruit employees and hire trades persons for working as a part of your organization and representing you in the industry, it is important and also a cause of respite for you to know that the individual you are hiring is proficient enough to carry out the tasks appointed to him or her in the most effective way possible, and to use his or her own intelligence when it is necessary. Therefore, apart from conducting the usual interviews and holding group sessions, you should also consider making the potential employees take a psychometric test to determine whether or not they are the right person for this job.

What are Psychometric Tests?

Psychometric tests are methods of measuring and calculating a candidate’s relevant strengths and weaknesses. They are a structured, systematic way of testing a candidate’s aptitude for performing certain tasks, and ascertaining how they will respond to a variety of situations that may occur at the workplace. These tests not only provide information about the skill-sets and aptitudes that the candidate already possesses, but will also analyse the person’s ability to learn and perform fresh tasks that he or she has never been faced with before.

Why is a Psychometric Test Important?

Psychometric testing is being used by many organizations to help them with the mechanical process of recruitment. These tests aim to measure attributes in an individual such as intelligence, adaptability, logical reasoning, personality, and the knack to perform under pressure, among others.

This test is important for you as an organization because:

It will help an employer gauge the future performance of a candidate and also improve employee retention rate by making scrupulous hiring decisions.

This test provides a more accurate way of assessing the abilities, strengths, and weaknesses of a candidate by asking the right questions, some of which the employer may not have thought of while conducting the interview.

Since this test is a method that is carried out on a large scale where all the candidates are made to take the test on pen and paper, it will save the manager or the employer a lot of time and effort as he will not have to screen through every candidate individually, thus reducing the workload considerably.

Asking your candidates to take this test before making a decision that will prove as a vital one for your organization will help you to ascertain the presence or absence of the following traits and abilities:

Verbal Ability, which includes linguistic skills, precision in Grammar, ability to understand analogies, and follow detailed written instructions to the letter.

Abstract Reasoning measure the candidate’s ability to identify the underlying logic behind a diagram or a pattern, and determine the solution to a problem.

Numeric Ability is based on arithmetic questions and simple mathematics. Most employers look for a candidate’s ability to work with numbers, and that is why this aspect is also a part of general aptitude tests.

Spatial Reasoning skills are the ability to manipulate shapes in two dimensions or to visualize three-dimensional objects presented as two-dimensional pictures. These skills are very specific and are a requirement for Architects and Engineers.

There you have it. If you are an organization that is looking to hire, do include a Psychometric Test as a part of the recruitment process and dig out better, more highly-skilled employees with just a pen and a paper.